Fort Collins, CO – Colorado State University men’s lacrosse has announced a 14 game schedule for the 2014 season, which includes match-ups with eight MCLA tournament teams from 2013. The Rams will also scrimmage two NCAA varsity opponents, including the University of Denver, a Division I semifinalist from a year ago.

CSU begins its season with two scrimmages in early February, traveling to play the University of Denver and Colorado Mesa University on Feb. 1 and 15 respectively. The Rams have never scrimmaged Denver in a spring game and their contest against CMU is only the second since the Mavericks moved to NCAA Division II in 2011.

The Rams hit the road for their first MCLA contests of 2014 as they compete in the Lax Coaches vs. Cancer challenge in Palm Desert, CA. CSU will take on Grand Canyon University and the University of Oregon in a star-studded event that will also feature the University of Colorado, BYU, Chapman, Boston College and other teams from around the country. On Friday, Feb. 21, CSU faces off against Grand Canyon, who is currently in their second year as an MCLA Division I team and made the MCLA tournament in 2013. Then on Feb. 23, the Rams will take on Oregon for the first time since 2008.

After the initial road trip of the season, Colorado State returns to Fort Collins for a four game home-stand, which includes a Mar. 2 tilt against the University of Texas. The Rams and Longhorns last butted heads in the 2010 season and Texas is coming off an LSA title and MCLA tournament berth in 2013.

Next up for CSU is likely the most challenging two-day stretch on the docket as the Michigan State Spartans and Brigham Young Cougars come calling on Mar. 7 and 8 respectively. CSU has had some terrific battles with MSU, who was an MCLA quarterfinalist last year. The game against Brigham Young is a match-up between two teams who have faced each other in each of the last three MCLA semifinal rounds and is one of the best rivalries in the entire MCLA.

Home games against Arizona State, an MCLA semifinalist, and Cal-Berkeley on Mar. 13 and 15 take CSU to the halfway point of the season. The Rams move the Mar. 15 game against the Bears to Shea Stadium in Denver to celebrate the CSU Lacrosse Alumni Association’s 2014 Hall of Fame class.

The Rams are back on the road for contests against San Diego State and Chapman on Mar. 20 and 22. CSU has not played SDSU in the MCLA-era while their game against Chapman has quickly become one of the premiere out of conference rivalries in the association. CSU defeated Chapman 5-4 in double overtime last season.

On Mar. 27 and 29, Davenport and UNLV pay a visit to Fort Collins, CO for CSU’s final out of conference games of the regular season. The Rams have never played Davenport, who is in their second year as an MCLA Division I program while the game against UNLV will be a rematch of last year’s 9-5 victory for CSU.

After a bye weekend, Colorado State wraps up their home schedule with back to back RMLC contests against Utah and Westminster on Apr. 11 and 12. Westminster is in their first season as an MCLA Division I program and CSU’s game on Apr. 12 against the Griffins will mark senior day on campus.

Colorado State finishes the 2014 regular season campaign with a much-anticipated rematch against the University of Colorado at Folsom Field in Boulder, CO on Apr. 19. CSU defeated CU 7-2 in the MCLA title game last season and the two rivals have staged some of the most exciting match-ups in the association over the past several years.

For more information on Colorado State men’s lacrosse, please visit csulacrosse.com.